Hermann Stern
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Dr. Hermann Stern | |
|---|---|
 A portrait of Hermann Stern | |
| Born | 24 May 1878 |
| Died | 24 August 1952 (aged 74) |
| Alma mater | University of Innsbruck (Doctor of Law) |
| Occupations | Lawyer Politician |
| Spouse |
Anna Knittel (m. 1911) |
| Parent(s) | Johann Joachim Stern Gertraud Stern, (née Lechthaler) |
Hermann Stern (24 May 1878 – 24 August 1952) was an Austrian lawyer, local politician, and economic pioneer.
Born in Bolzano, South Tyrol, Hermann Stern as the seventh of ten children. He was the son of Johann Joachim Stern, a Jew who converted to Catholicism, and Gertraud Stern née Lechthaler.[1]
He received his law doctorate in 1902 from the University of Innsbruck, passing the bar exam in 1906. He became secretary of the Association of Catholic Agricultural Workers in Innsbruck. In 1910, he moved to Reutte (Tyrol, Austria) as a lawyer.[2]
Career
In 1918, Stern played a vital role in a democracy movement in Reutte that aimed to restructure the town in a gradual process.[citation needed] In 1919, he became a member of the municipal council of Reutte. There he held various positions until 1927, ultimately as the deputy mayor. Within the municipal council, he expanded the municipal power station in Reutte and established of a hospital.[citation needed]
When sugar prices doubled on December 1, 1919, there were major conflicts because the available sugar had not been distributed to the population before December 1. District authorities claimed that there was not enough sugar and that it was mainly needed for the sick. Research by the Social Democrats and Dr. Stern, found that the Schretter company owned almost ten times the declared amount of sugar. Through Stern's work, the sugar was confiscated and distributed to the population.[3]
As an economic pioneer, he spurred the use of available resources, such as water, wood, and electricity, for an economic upswing. In 1922, he succeeded in persuading Paul Schwarzkopf to found the Plansee metal works, to use the abundant electricity. He founded an oil plant resources and several wood processing companies.
In 1923, Stern was the executive director of the Tiroler Oelwerke LLC.[4]
His main economic project was the construction of a cable car up to the Zugspitze.[5] Its completion in 1926 brought him to the peak of his popularity. The project eventually failed due to the economic situation caused by the Nazi government's thousand-mark ban.
Personal life
In 1911, he married Anna Knittel, the daughter of a school inspector, Josef Knittel. They gave birth to five children.[6]
